The research activity within the area of the Experimental Physics Group at Verona University concerns the study of mesoscopic phenomena in condensed matter physics. Our research topics span over the study of structural and dynamical (mechanical, vibrational, electrical, electronic and optical) properties of solid state systems, either in form of crystalline compounds or of composite nanostructured films, of bio-molecular systems, and advanced optical materials. Specifically, current research topics are: (i) Study and development of photonic devices and energy generators using piezoelectricity at the nanoscale, for self-powered devices in biomedical applications. (ii) Development of functional nanostructured films for photovoltaic applications. (iii) Development of spatial light modulators with high contrast of refractive index in the near infrared and of multipurpose advanced optical techniques. (iv) Interdisciplinary applications of Infrared Spectroscopy and Microspectroscopy including use of multivariate statistical analysis techniques. (v) Study of vibrational dynamics of micro-crystalline solids. (vi) Study of the optical and electronic properties of nano-structured systems for opto-electronics and bio-medical applications. Research activities in applied physics include medical imaging and cultural heritage applications. The first include advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques, as Diffusion Tensor Imaging and functional MRI, Optical Imaging, including Cerenkov Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography and multi-modal imaging approaches to biomedical problems. Cultural heritage applications are focused on the implementation and use of optical techniques for nondestructive diagnostics including: multi-modal imaging in infrared/thermal bands, multispectral imaging, three dimensional survey of surfaces through laser conoscopy micro-profilometry, characterization of art works through infrared spectroscopy.

Research in this area inolves the mathematical modelling of complex continuous phenomena and the development of appropriate tools for their theoretical as well as numerical treatment. This involves the disciplines of Non-linear Analysis, Calculus of Variations, Optimal Control, Numerical Analysis as well as Mathematical Physics and Differential Geometry. Special emphasis is placed on the modelling of the complex phenomena that one encounters, for example, in the area of Financial Mathematics where the presence of stochastic behaviour requires the tools of Probability and Stochastic Analysis. The area enjoys numerous joint collaborations, both at the national as well as the international level, and its members participate in a variety of research projects involving a number of different sites.

Different aspects of discrete mathematics are investigated both from an abstract and a computational point of view. Categorical, homological and combinatorial methods are combined to study associative algebras arising in different contexts, to deal with classification problems, and to investigate categories of algebraic or geometric nature that find application also in theoretical physics. Theoretical background and algorithms for optimization, including mathematical programming and combinatorial optimization, are also studied, particularly in the context of operations research. Mathematical logic, especially proof theory and constructive mathematics, is pursued to uncover the computational content of mathematical proofs, e.g. algorithms with certificates of correctness. This partial realization of the revised Hilbert Programme is extended to conceptual areas, such as the theories of commutative rings and Banach algebras, where the finite underpinning of transfinite methods is a particular challenge.

This research area aims at achieving the 3C convergence, i.e., the deep integration of computing, control and communication for the design of modern complex systems, which include cyberphysical, real-time, embedded, hardware and software subsystems, with applications ranging from robotics to automotive, avionics, energy, biology. The core research on computing aspects is related to modeling, verification and optimization of intelligent cyberphsical systems, with particular emphasis on models of computation, manipulation of description languages, semi-formal and formal verification, hardware and software automated synthesis and compilation, correct-by-construction refinement and optimization, fundamental CAD algorithms. System theory concepts are used to model dynamic systems, and to interface dynamic systems to computation elements and communication networks. They are mainly investigated from the point of view of the design of robotic tele-operated systems, virtual environments for surgical applications, mobile robots and multi-robot systems, and optimal co-design of communication and control strategies for networked and embedded control systems. Finally, research in communication is focused on the design, analysis and evaluation of network protocols and architectures, considering all layers, from data link, to routing, to congestion control, to overlay; moreover, with the so-called network synthesis, computation, communication and control aspects are addressed in a holistic way to face the complexity of large pervasive applications.

This research area aims to develop and experiment new approaches regarding the information representation, manipulation and processing considering information systems contexts of different application areas. Theoretical studies are carried on in spatial, temporal and semistructured databases, but also in process modeling with particular emphasis on data and process modeling, query processing, data mining and data visualization, when space and time are involved. Case studies and application contexts are mainly focused on information systems in medicine, geographical information systems and process-aware information systems.